8 tips to help you overcome the fear of being sober


March 7, 2022

fear of being sober phobia

But with proper treatment — usually a form of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy and medicines — you can escape the trap of agoraphobia and live a more enjoyable life. For many people in recovery, this fear can be overwhelming and trigger a feeling of hopelessness. Exposure therapy treats an avoidance behavior that has developed over time.

  • Your anxiety can be mild or so intense that you can’t leave your home.
  • In most cases, psychotherapy alone is successful in treating autophobia.
  • If this happens to you, you may not be able to visit with family and friends, go to school or work, run errands, or take part in other routine daily activities.
  • It is often best to start with a low dose and slowly increase medication when treating phobias.

tips to help you overcome the fear of being sober

In most cases, psychotherapy alone is successful in treating autophobia. But medication can sometimes be useful in helping reduce a person’s symptoms so that they can recover through psychotherapy. This means that the situation of being alone or loneliness causes extreme distress. To be diagnosed with autophobia, your fear of being alone causes you so much anxiety that it interferes with your daily routine. When you see a mental health specialist, they’ll perform a psychological evaluation.

What are the complications of autophobia (monophobia)?

fear of being sober phobia

If you experience anxiety going places or have panic attacks, get treatment as soon as possible. Anxiety, like many other mental health conditions, can be harder to treat if you wait. Psychiatric disabilities include panic disorders or other mental health conditions that limit one or more parts of your life.

fear of being sober phobia

What’s the outlook for autophobia?

This knowledge of benefits and challenges can empower you and reduce anxiety and alleviating fear by framing sobriety as a positive lifestyle change. And the need for proximity varies from person to person. Some people with autophobia feel a need to be in the same room as another person, fear of being sober but being in the same house or building is OK for others.

fear of being sober phobia

How is autophobia diagnosed?

  • Childhood fears, such as fear of the dark, monsters or of being left alone, are common.
  • Regular mindfulness and meditation practices can improve your emotional regulation and stress management, making the prospect of sobriety less daunting and more manageable.
  • You might think that you’re totally losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.
  • If you do get scared, your thoughts need to include fear that you won’t be able to get out of the situation easily or that no one will help you if you panic.
  • It’s important to remember that you only have to take it one day at a time, and deal with only one thing at a time.
  • Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also help.
  • Dealing with setbacks or relapses is a common part of the recovery process.

Mentally, you may worry about your safety or feel trapped when you’re out in public. Physically, this kind of panic can give you a racing heart, chest pain, dizziness, or a sense that you can’t breathe. Outside of therapy, the doctor might have you expose your child to their fears little by little. For example, going on bus trips might help your child feel safer on public transportation.

  • This means that the situation of being alone or loneliness causes extreme distress.
  • You figure out how to control how you think and feel about it instead of your fear controlling you.
  • You may find yourself staying in an unhealthy or even abusive relationship to avoid being alone.
  • With it, you’re fearful about situations where you’re alone.
  • As a result, your doctor may not diagnose you with it right away.
  • You may want to write down a list of fears in recovery.


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